Ironing Cloth and Method of Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

An ironing cloth includes a fabric sleeve having a top layer, an intermediate layer and an attachment layer. The top layer and the intermediate layer are attached to form an upper portion of the sleeve. The attachment layer is attached to the upper portion of the sleeve on a side of the intermediate layer such that an opening for receiving a lid of a top loading washing machine is formed therebetween.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/937,192, filed Jun. 26, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an ironing cloth that is directly attached to a dryer, top loading washing machine or front loading washing machine for ironing by a user thereon. The invention further relates to a method of use of such an ironing cloth.

BACKGROUND

Conventional ironing boards include a rigid base supported by a plurality of foldable legs. When the ironing board is set-up for use it occupies a lot of space. Furthermore, although the legs of the ironing board are foldable for space saving purposes, the ironing board still occupies space when not in use. It is therefore desirable to provide an ironing solution that overcomes the above-identified problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The invention relates to an ironing cloth comprising a fabric sleeve including a top layer, an intermediate layer and an attachment layer. The top layer and the intermediate layer are attached to form an upper portion of the sleeve. The attachment layer is attached to the upper portion of the sleeve on a side of the intermediate layer such that an opening for receiving a lid of a top loading washing machine is formed therebetween.

The invention further relates to an ironing cloth comprising a fabric cover including a top layer, an intermediate layer and a bottom layer. The intermediate layer is arranged between the top layer and the bottom layer. Attachment members are provided on ends of the bottom layer for attaching the fabric cover to a top surface of a dryer of front loading washing machine.

The invention still further relates to a method of ironing an article with a pressing apparatus, comprising: providing a fabric sleeve; moving a lid of a top loading washing machine to an open position; inserting the lid of the top loading washing machine into an opening in the fabric sleeve; and moving the lid of the top loading washing machine into a closed position.

The invention also relates to a method of ironing an article with a pressing apparatus comprises: providing a fabric cover with attachment members; placing the fabric cover over a top surface of a dryer or front loading washing machine; and attaching ends of the cover to side surfaces of the dryer or front loading washing machine with the attachment members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing cloth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ironing cloth of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom layer of the ironing cloth of FIG. 1 showing the ironing cloth of FIG. 1 assembled to a top loading washing machine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a top layer of the ironing cloth of FIG. 1 showing the ironing cloth of FIG. 1 assembled to the top loading washing machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a method of use of the ironing cloth of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ironing cloth according to a second embodiment of the invention showing the ironing cloth assembled to a front loading washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bottom layer of the ironing cloth of FIG. 6 shown without pockets.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bottom layer of the ironing cloth of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1-5 show an ironing cloth 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the ironing cloth 1 consists of a fabric sleeve 2 comprising a top layer 3, an intermediate layer 4, a bottom layer 5, and an attachment layer 6. The intermediate layer 4 is arranged between the top layer 3 and the bottom layer 5. The top layer 3, the intermediate layer 4 and the bottom layer 5 form an upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2. The attachment layer 6 is arranged adjacent to the bottom layer 5 of the upper portion 7. An opening 8 is formed between the attachment layer 6 and the upper portion 7. The opening 8 is substantially rectangular and is configured, for example, to have a size and shape of a standard sized lid 9 of a top loading washing machine 10, as shown in FIGS. 3-5.

The top layer 3 and the bottom layer 5 may be formed from a material suitable to resist heat and pressure during ironing, such as a bleached, unbleached, dyed, coated or natural cotton material. The intermediate layer 4 may be formed from an insulative padding, such as a foam polymeric material. The intermediate layer 4 has a thickness greater than a thickness of the top layer 3 and the bottom layer 5. The attachment layer 6 may be formed from a fabric, a mesh, or other backing material. The top layer 3, the intermediate layer 4, the bottom layer 5 and the attachment layer 6 may be formed from hand or machine washable materials.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, in order to form the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2, the intermediate layer 4 is arranged between the top layer 3 and the bottom layer 5. The top layer 3 and the bottom layer 5 are attached substantially along a perimeter thereof with a sewn seam, an adhesive or other attachment method. The attachment layer 6 is attached to the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2 on a side of the bottom layer 5. The attachment layer 6 is attached to the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2 substantially along a perimeter thereof with a sewn seam, an adhesive or other attachment method. The attachment layer 6 is attached to the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2 such that the opening 8 is formed between the attachment layer 6 and the upper portion 7 and access thereinto is formed on at least one side thereof. Alternatively, the bottom layer 5 of the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2 could be eliminated, and the attachment layer 6 could be attached to the upper portion 7 on a side of the intermediate layer 4.

FIGS. 3-5 show a method of use of the ironing cloth 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 is moved to an open position. The lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 is then inserted into the opening 8 of the sleeve 2 from a front thereof such that the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2 is positioned on an outside surface of the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 and the attachment layer 6 is positioned on an inside surface of the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 is then moved to a closed position such that the upper portion 7 of the sleeve 2 forms a substantially flat ironing surface with an outside surface of the top loading washing machine 10. As shown in FIG. 5, a user 11 may then place an article 12 desired to be ironed on the top layer 3 of the sleeve 2. The user 11 may then use a pressing apparatus 13, such as an electric iron, to iron the article 12.

In order to remove the ironing cloth 1 from the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10, the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 is moved to the open position and the sleeve 2 is pulled off the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 in a direction opposite from a direction of insertion thereon. Although the sleeve 2 is easily removable from the lid 9, the sleeve 2 can remain on the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 during normal use of the top loading washing machine 10, since the attachment layer 6 will not become wet during the normal use thereof. The ironing cloth 1 therefore does not take up additional space during or after the use thereof. Additionally, because the sleeve 2 is made from hand or machine washable materials, the sleeve 2 can easily be removed from the lid 9 of the top loading washing machine 10 and cleaned when necessary.

FIGS. 6-8 show an ironing cloth 20 according to a second embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 6-7, the ironing cloth 20 consists of a fabric cover 21 comprising a top layer 22, an intermediate layer 23 and a bottom layer 24. The intermediate layer 23 is arranged between the top layer 22 and the bottom layer 24. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, pockets 25 are provided on ends 26 of the cover 21 on a side of the bottom layer 24. The pockets 25 are configured to receive attachment members 27. The attachment members 27 may be, for example, magnets, weights or other types of attachment members capable of holding the cover 21 in position. Alternatively, the pockets 25 could be eliminated and attachment members, such as VELCRO, could be used. The cover 21 is substantially rectangular and is configured, for example, to have a slightly larger size and shape than a top surface 28 of a front loading washing machine or dryer 29, as shown in FIG. 6.

The top layer 22, the bottom layer 24 and the pockets 25 may be formed from a material suitable to resist heat and pressure during ironing, such as a bleached, unbleached, dyed, coated or natural cotton material. The intermediate layer 23 may be formed from an insulative padding, such as a foam polymeric material. The intermediate layer 23 has a thickness greater than a thickness of the top layer 22 and the bottom layer 24. The top layer 22, the intermediate layer 23, the bottom layer 24 and the pockets 25 may be formed from hand or machine washable materials.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, in order to form the cover 21, the intermediate layer 23 is arranged between the top layer 22 and the bottom layer 24. The top layer 22 and the bottom layer 24 are attached substantially along a perimeter thereof with a sewn seam, an adhesive or other attachment method. The attachment members 27 are attached to the ends 26 of the cover 21 on the side of the bottom layer 24. The attachment members 27 may be attached to the ends 26 of the cover 21 on the side of the bottom layer 24 by sewing the attachment members 27 into the pockets 25. Alternatively, the pockets 25 could be eliminated and the attachment members 27 could be attached directly to the ends 26 of the cover 21 on the side of the bottom layer 24 with an adhesive or other attachment method.

FIG. 6 shows a method of use of the ironing cloth 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 21 is positioned on the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29 such that the bottom layer 24 is positioned against the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29. The cover 21 is arranged such that the cover 21 extends substantially flat over the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29. The ends 26 of the cover 21 are then attached to side surfaces 30 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29 to hold the cover 21 in position. A user (not shown) may then place an article (not shown) desired to be ironed on the top layer 22 of the cover 21. The user (not shown) may then use a pressing apparatus 31, such as an electric iron, to iron the article (not shown).

In order to remove the ironing cloth 20 from the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29, the attachment members 27 are removed from the side surfaces 30 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29, and the cover 21 is pulled off the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29. Although the cover 21 is easily removable from the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29, the cover 21 can remain on the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29 during normal use of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29. The ironing cloth 20 therefore does not take up additional space during or after the use thereof. Additionally, because the cover 21 is made from hand or machine washable materials, the cover 21 can easily be removed from the top surface 28 of the front loading washing machine or dryer 29 and cleaned when necessary.

The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents. 

1. An ironing cloth, comprising: a fabric sleeve including a top layer, an intermediate layer and an attachment layer, the top layer and the intermediate layer being attached to form an upper portion of the sleeve, the attachment layer being attached to the upper portion of the sleeve on a side of the intermediate layer such that an opening for receiving a lid of a top loading washing machine is formed therebetween.
 2. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein the upper portion further comprises a bottom layer, the intermediate layer being arranged between the top layer and the bottom layer and the attachment layer being attached to the bottom layer.
 3. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein the top layer is a cotton material and the intermediate layer is an insulative pad.
 4. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness greater than the top layer.
 5. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein access into the opening is provided on one side of the sleeve.
 6. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein the attachment layer is a mesh.
 7. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein the first layer, the intermediate layer and the attachment layer are machine washable materials.
 8. The ironing cloth of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is attached to the attachment layer with a sewn seam.
 9. An ironing cloth, comprising: a fabric cover including a top layer, an intermediate layer and a bottom layer, the intermediate layer being arranged between the top layer and the bottom layer; and attachment members provided on ends of the bottom layer for attaching the fabric cover to a top surface of a dryer of front loading washing machine.
 10. The ironing cloth of claim 9, wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are a cotton material and the intermediate layer is an insulative pad.
 11. The ironing cloth of claim 9, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness greater than the top layer and the bottom layer.
 12. The ironing cloth of claim 9, wherein the first layer, the intermediate layer and the bottom layer are machine washable materials.
 13. The ironing cloth of claim 9, wherein the attachment members are magnets.
 14. The ironing cloth of claim 9, wherein pockets are provided in the second layer, the pockets receiving the attachment members.
 15. A method of ironing an article with a pressing apparatus, comprising: providing a fabric sleeve; moving a lid of a top loading washing machine to an open position; inserting the lid of the top loading washing machine into an opening in the fabric sleeve; and moving the lid of the top loading washing machine into a closed position.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sleeve includes a top layer, an intermediate layer and an attachment layer, the top layer and the intermediate layer being attached to form an upper portion of the sleeve, the attachment layer being attached to the upper portion of the sleeve on a side of the intermediate layer such that the opening is formed therebetween.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the top layer is a cotton material and the intermediate layer is an insulative pad.
 18. A method of ironing an article with a pressing apparatus, comprising: providing a fabric cover with attachment members; placing the fabric cover over a top surface of a dryer or front loading washing machine; and attaching ends of the cover to side surfaces of the dryer or front loading washing machine with the attachment members.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cover includes a top layer, an intermediate layer and a bottom layer, the intermediate layer being arranged between the top layer and the bottom layer, the intermediate layer being an insulative pad.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the attachment members are magnets. 